Slovenian club Olimpija fires coach over racial slur

Marko Nikolic (Alastair Grant/AP)

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia — Slovenian club Olimpija Ljubljana has fired coach Marko Nikolic for making a racial slur.

Nikolic made a comment about one of his own players, Blessing Eleke, after the Nigerian scored an extra time equalizer against Zavrc in a 1-1 draw last week.

Nikolic, a Serb, was caught on camera as saying "look at that black idiot" while Eleke celebrated.

Nikolic has said he never intended to offend the player racially, and was unhappy that the long celebration meant there was no time for a winner. He has apologized to Eleke.

The Slovenian soccer association earlier suspended Nikolic for seven matches.

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